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"Is it possible for a woman's hcg level to be too low?"

Question

Is there any circumstance that a woman's hcg level doesn't rise enough to be detected by a blood test 2 months after intercourse?

Answer

As you know, the HCG hormone is one of the "pregnancy hormones" that is detectable in the woman's blood and urine after the embryo has implanted in the uterus. This means that, if a woman is pregnant and the pregnancy is proceeding as expected, then this hormone should be detectable. Generally speaking, the hormone is detectable in the blood stream about 10 days or so after intercourse, if the embryo implants. The urine levels of the hormone can take a bit longer, up to just over 2 weeks. However, by two months the hormone should always be detectable during pregnancy.
There are a few situations in which the hormone may be detectable initially and then later not be detectable. The most common scenario in which this would occur is a miscarriage, in which the embryo dies and is expelled from the body, thereby causing the HCG levels to fall.
If you have questions about becoming pregnant or about a current pregnancy, then you should definitely call your OB GYN doctor and make an appointment with them. They will be able to answer any questions you might have and make suggestions about any treatments or studies that might be needed.

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Zocdoc Answers is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor (in the United States) 911 immediately. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. Medical professionals who provide responses to health-related questions are intended third party beneficiaries with certain rights under Zocdoc’s Terms of Service.